Wapta and Mt Thompson

Quick report

Weather

warm, sunny

Ride Type

alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes

Riding Quality

ok

Snow Conditions

hard, windAffected, powder, crusty

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSound

Wapta conditions & Mt Thompson - Mar 14, 15 2020. 3 of us went in to Peyto Hut and back via Bow Lake. Skied Mt Thompson on our way out. Widespread wind affect pretty typical for the Wapta, but in more places than usual due to the opposing winds during the week. Lots of wind slabs/ crusts, drumming, cracking, sastrugi, and crappy skiing to be found! Cold snow was slow and high friction until later on Sunday. Coverage all over is fantastic, though. I probed 5 or 6 times over the weekend and only once was it under 3m (290cm). Average of ~310cm otherwise. Snow depth on the ice field is very good. We were able to ski from the summit of Mt Thompson and didn't hit a single rock the whole way, which isn't typical.... however, the ski quality was nothing to brag about. Alpine weather on Sunday was absolutely incredible, with perhaps the best weather day I've ever had on skis. Snow remained dry all day, too. There were tons of parties out, some pictured. Of note - there were cornice collapses on the N face on Rhondda, and E face of Mt Baker - neither of which resulted in an avalanche, sweet. Snow stability in the area seemed good - save for some random wind-slabs which we found to be non reactive where we traveled. The toe of the glacier above Bow Hut skied very well but was quite tracked out

Snowpack

Depth

310

Obs Type

summary

Site Elevation

2650

Ski Penetration

5

Cracking Observed

1

Site Elevation Band

alp

Surface Conditions

crust, newSnow